Coiled tubing work floor downhole tool handling system

ABSTRACT

A coiled tubing work station with a protective shield and a work platform connected to a support structure. A tool holder is connected to the support structure. In a working position of the work station, a worker may be positioned on the work platform. A tool positioned in the tool holder can be connected to coiled tubing that extends through the protective shield. The protective shield protects the worker, and the tool holder aids in making the connection to the coiled tubing.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to a work station and more specifically relates to a work station with a work floor, which may be an adjustable work floor, and a tool handling system for connecting tools to coiled tubing.

Reeled, or coiled tubing is run into wells with coiled tubing injectors for performing certain downhole operations. Such downhole operations may include, for example, washing out sand bridges, circulating treating fluids, setting downhole tools, cleaning the walls of well pipes, conducting production fluids or lift gas, and a number of other similar remedial or production operations. Thus, opportunities exist to utilize coiled tubing technology in the drilling, completion and workover of new wells and in re-entries. Coiled tubing is generally supplied on a drum or reel, and is spooled off the reel into a coiled tubing injector assembly. The coiled tubing injector assembly generally will comprise a curvilinear gooseneck or tubing guide and a coiled tubing injector apparatus positioned therebelow. The coiled tubing and tools attached thereto are inserted into the well and retracted therefrom with the coiled tubing injector apparatus. Coiled tubing is generally inserted into the well through a lubricator assembly or stuffing box which seals the well for pressure retention in the well.

A variety of tools may be attached or connected to the coiled tubing depending on the operation to be performed with the coiled tubing. To attach tools to the end of the coiled tubing, the coiled tubing assembly, including the gooseneck and the tubing injector apparatus are generally suspended above the ground with a crane, and coiled tubing is inserted through the tubing injector so that it hangs below the tubing injector apparatus. A worker positioned below the suspended coiled tubing injector assembly will typically be required to connect tools to the coiled tubing while standing beneath the suspended coiled tubing injector assembly. The worker is required to lift the tool to engage the end of the coiled tubing or to engage the end of a tool already attached to the coiled tubing and to rotate the tool to thread the tool onto a connector utilized to attach the tool to the coiled tubing. The connecting operation can often be a difficult and arduous task and has some dangers associated therewith such as for example falling objects and/or the danger that the crane could slip and/or give way and cause the entire assembly to drop unexpectedly. In addition, the ground upon which the worker is standing may oftentimes be uneven, wet or unstable which can likewise create a danger of injury for a worker attempting to connect a tool to the coiled tubing. The work station of the current invention addresses these and other issues.

SUMMARY

The coiled tubing invention of the present invention comprises an elevated work platform, which is preferably an adjustable work platform, and a protective shield both mounted to a support structure. The tool holder is also mounted to the support structure. The work station may be mounted to a trailer and may be pivotally connected thereto so that it is movable from a transport position to a working position.

In the working position of the work station, the protective shield is rotated from a transport or closed position to an extended position. Likewise, in the working position, the elevated work platform is rotated from a closed or retracted position to an extended position. In the working position of the work station, a worker may be supported by the work platform and protected from above by the protective shield. Coiled tubing may extend through the protective shield from a coiled tubing injector assembly suspended thereabove. A tool may be positioned in the tool holder so that a worker positioned on the work platform may manipulate the tool to connect the tool to the coiled tubing. The tool holder may comprise a housing with a biasing means such as a spring disposed therein.

The spring will urge a tool positioned in the tool holder towards the coiled tubing to aid in lifting the tool towards the coiled tubing thus decreasing the amount of weight a worker is required to support when attempting to connect a tool to the coiled tubing. The tool holder may be adjustable so that its position relative to the coiled tubing may be adjusted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a work station mounted to a trailer in a transport position.

FIG. 2 shows the work station of the current invention in a working position with a coiled tubing injector assembly suspended thereabove.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the connection of the work station to a trailer.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the work station without the work platform.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the work station in its working position.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the work station without the work platform.

FIG. 7 is a partial side view of the work station with the protective shield in the transport position.

FIG. 8 is a view from line 8-8 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the work station in a working position.

FIG. 10 is a cross-section view of the tool holder of the current invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, a work station 10 is shown mounted to a trailer 15. In the embodiment shown, work station 10 is a trailer-mounted work station 10 and is movable with trailer 15. FIG. 1 shows the work station in a transport position with a coiled tubing injector assembly 20 mounted thereto. While the embodiment shown shows a trailer-mounted work station 10, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to trailer-mounted work stations but includes freestanding work stations supported upon a ground surface. Coiled tubing injector assembly 20 includes a coiled tubing injector apparatus 25 and a gooseneck or tubing guide 30 attached thereto. FIG. 2 shows work station 10 in a rotated, or working position. The work station 10 is movable between its transport position shown in FIG. 1 and the working position shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 schematically shows the tubing injector assembly 25 suspended above the ground so that tools may be connected to coiled tubing 32. Tubing injector assembly 25 may be suspended with a crane (not shown). Coiled tubing 32 will be spooled off a reel (not shown) and will be inserted into and withdrawn from a well utilizing tubing injector assembly 20. FIG. 2 schematically shows coiled tubing 32 extending from the lower end of the coiled tubing injector 25 positioned for connection to a tool such as a tool 34.

Work station 10 comprises a protective shield 40 and a work platform 42 both of which may be attached to a support structure 44. A tool holder 45 is also attached to support structure 44, and will support a tool, such as tool 34, for connection to coiled tubing 32. Support structure 44 is a rigid support structure and may comprise vertical supports or vertical frame members 46. As will be discussed in more detail hereinbelow, support structure 44 may be pivotally connected to trailer 15 at vertical support members 46. Support structure 44 may further include a plurality of cross beams connected to and extending between the vertical support members 46 such as a lower cross beam 48, an intermediate cross beam 50 and an upper cross beam 52. Upper cross beam 52 comprises a portion of a cage 54 positioned at an upper end 56 of support members 46. Support members 46 have a lower end 58.

Cage 54 comprises upper cross beam 52 and side members 60 connected to and extending rearwardly from support members 46. Side members 60 have a forward end 62 and rear end 64. A connecting beam 66 extends between and is connected to side members 60 at rear end 64. Protective shield 40 is shown in the working position of the work station 10 in FIG. 4, which may also be referred to as the open or expanded position of the protective shield 40. In the transport position, protective shield 40 is in a closed or retracted position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7.

Protective shield 40 is movable relative to support structure 44 from its retracted position to its expanded position, and is pivotally connected to support structure 44. Protective shield 40 is connected with a pair of forward connecting rods 70 which may comprise left and right forward connecting rods 72 and 74 and rear connecting rods 76 which may comprise left rear and right rear connecting rods 78 and 80, respectively. Forward connecting rods 70 and rear connecting rods 76 may be pivotally connected with pivot pins or by any other means known in the art for making pivotal connections. Forward connecting rods 70 may be pivotably connected to protective shield 40 with pins 71, and to support members 46 with pins 73. Rear connecting rods 76 may be pivotably connected to protective shield 40 with pins 77 and to side members 60 with pins 79. Upper cross beam 52 acts as a stop so that protective shield 40 in its expanded position will be positioned above the worker utilizing the work station. Connecting beam 66 acts as a stop as well so that protective shield 40 may be rotated, or pivoted from its extended position and will stop in its retracted position as shown in FIG. 7.

Protective shield 40 comprises a generally rectangular body 81 with an outer periphery 82 comprising first, or left and second, or right sides 84 and 86 along with rear and forward sides 88 and 90, respectively. Protective shield 40 has upper surface 92 and lower surface 94. Upper surface 92 defines a generally frusto-conically shaped depression. An opening 96 extends through protective shield 40 and extends from a center or central portion 98 thereof to the periphery 82 thereof, and preferably to forward side 90 and thus in the view shown in FIG. 6 generally defines a slot 100. Coiled tubing 32 and/or tools attached to coiled tubing 32 may pass through slot 100 axially and radially.

Work station 10 may include a pair of brackets, or injector supports 102 connected to intermediate cross beam 50. Each bracket 102 comprises an arm 104 connected to and extending from intermediate cross beam 50. A channel, or generally J-shaped bracket 106 is connected to each arm 104. Brackets 102 may be used to support coiled tubing injector assembly 20 when work station 10 is in its transport position and coiled tubing injector assembly 20 is mounted thereto.

Work platform 42 is pivotally connected to support structure 44 and is movable from the folded position shown in FIG. 1 to an extended, or rotated position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The rotated position of work platform 42 corresponds to the working position of work station 10. In the working position of the work station 10, in which work platform 42 is rotated and protective shield 40 is extended, a work space 110 is defined between protective shield 40 and work platform 42. Work platform 42 may be vertically adjustable so that the height of work space 110 is variable to accommodate for tools of varying heights. A worker positioned on platform 42 may manipulate a tool 34 to connect the tool 34 to the coiled tubing 32. Work platform 42 will provide a stable support for the worker and protective shield 40 will provide protection above the worker. Work platform 42 is pivotally connected to vertical support members 46 and may be pivotally connected by any means known in the art. Platform 42 may comprise an upper portion 112 and a lower portion or framework 114 to provide strength to the upper portion 112. Platform 42 may be pivotally connected with connecting arms 115 and pins 117 or by any means known in the art.

Platform 42 has a forward edge 116, a rear edge 118 and left and right side edges 120 and 122, respectively. Forward edge 116 has cutouts 124 which provide clearance for brackets 102 when work platform 42 is in the folded position. Work platform 42 may have a cutout 126, which in the embodiment shown is a generally V-shaped cutout 126 in rear edge 118. The V-shaped cutout 126 provides clearance for tool holder 45 and/or tool 34 positioned in tool holder 45.

Tool holder 45 is connected to support structure 44 and may be connected with a connecting plate 128 that is bolted or otherwise structurally attached to lower cross beam 48 and welded or otherwise connected to tool holder 45. The second connecting plate 130 is generally perpendicular to an axis 131 of tool holder 45 and may likewise be utilized to mount tool holder 45 to support structure 44. Connecting plate 130 may be attached with bolts or other means known in the art to brackets or straps that are welded or otherwise connected to support structure 44. A bumper 132 may be attached with support braces 134 and 136 to support structure 44 and may include a plurality of lights 138. The bumper may be electrically connected to the trailer 15 by connection means known in the art so that the lights are workable lights.

Tool holder 45, shown in cross-section in FIG. 10, generally comprises a housing which may be a tubular housing 140 with longitudinal central axis 131. A biasing means 142, which may be a spring 142, is disposed in housing 140. Spring 142 has lower end 144 and upper end 146. A sleeve 148 which acts as a cap for spring 142 engages upper end 146 of spring 142 and is slidably disposed in housing 140. A tool receptacle 150 with a tool-receiving cavity 152 for receiving a lower end of a tool 34 to be connected to coiled tubing 32 is likewise slidably disposed in housing 140. Tool receptacle 150 is free to rotate on housing 140. Tool 34 positioned in tool holder 45 will be substantially aligned with coiled tubing 32 extending from coiled tubing injector apparatus 25 so that a worker positioned on platform 42 may easily connect the tool 34 to coiled tubing 32 or to another tool connected to coiled tubing 32. Coiled tubing 32 will be suspended from coiled tubing injector apparatus 25 and spring 142 will bias, or urge the tool positioned in tool holder 45 upwardly, toward coiled tubing 32. Tool holder 45 thus aids in lifting tool 34 by providing a lifting force thereto, which reduces the weight that must be supported by a worker connecting tool 34 to coiled tubing 32. Tubular housing 140 has slots 154 therein. A guide pin 156 may be connected to sleeve 148, and may travel in slots 154, and thereby prevent rotation of sleeve 148. Guide pin 156 ensures that movement of sleeve 148 is generally vertical.

Threadably connecting the tool 34, or otherwise connecting the tool 34 to coiled tubing 32 is a less arduous task than if a worker is required to support the entire weight of tool 34, lift the tool 34 to the coiled tubing and then connect the tool 34 to the coiled tubing 32. Because tool holder 45 will support the tool and urge the tool toward coiled tubing 32, the tool 34 is more easily connected, and less difficult to connect than a tool not supported by the tool holder 45, which requires a worker to support the full weight of the tool when it is desired to connect the tool to coiled tubing 32. A worker positioned on platform 42, beneath protective shield 40 will be protected from falling objects from the coiled tubing injector apparatus 25 suspended thereabove and will likewise be protected if for some reason there is slippage of the apparatus of the coiled tubing injector apparatus itself.

As set forth herein the particular embodiment described is a trailer-mounted embodiment but other embodiments, such as an embodiment placed upon a ground surface and supported thereby may be constructed. In the embodiment shown, work station 10 is pivotally connected to trailer 15. Work station 10 may be pivotally connected to a frame 160 of trailer 15 with pins 162 or other means known in the art. Pins 162 may connect both of support members 46 to frame 160 with connecting rods 166 which may be utilized to pivotably attach work station 10 to trailer frame 160 and to control the movement thereof. A rod 168 which may be attached to a hydraulic cylinder 170 mounted to trailer frame 160 may be utilized to move work station 10 from its transport position shown in FIG. 1 to its working position shown in FIG. 2. Rod 168 may be connected to lower cross beam 48, so that movement of rod 166 will pivot work station 10 between its transport and working positions.

Coiled tubing injector apparatus 20 may be mounted to work station 10 in the transport position and rigidly fixed to trailer 15 with support straps 172 or other means known in the art. The injector apparatus 20 may be supported by brackets 102 in the transport position of work station 10. In the working position of work station 10, platform 42 is positioned above the ground, and so may be referred to as an elevated work platform 42. In the working position, work platform 42 provides a stable, secure surface for a worker positioned thereon, who is protected from above by protective shield 40.

Tool holder 45 positions tools, such as tool 34, for easy connection to coiled tubing 32, and provides an upwardly biased force with spring 142 to aid in lifting tool 34.

Thus, it is seen that the apparatus and methods of the present invention readily achieve the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described for purposes of the present disclosure, numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of parts and steps may be made by those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A coiled tubing work station comprising a protective shield adapted to be positioned beneath a raised tubing injector assembly, wherein the protective shield has an opening for allowing coiled tubing suspended from the tubing injector assembly to pass therethrough, and the protective shield defines a work space thereunder for connecting a tool to the coiled tubing when the protective shield is in a working position.
 2. The work station of claim 1 wherein the opening in the protective shield extends from a peripheral edge radially inwardly to a central portion thereof, so that the coiled tubing may move through the opening axially and radially.
 3. The work station of claim 1 further comprising a support structure for supporting the protective shield.
 4. The work station of claim 3 further comprising a work platform connected to the support structure, wherein the work platform is positioned beneath the protective shield so that a worker may stand thereon to connect the tool to coiled tubing extending through an opening in the protective shield.
 5. The work station of claim 4 wherein the work platform is pivotally connected to the support structure.
 6. The work station of claim 4 wherein the work station is attached to a trailer and movable thereon from a transport position to the working position.
 7. The work station of claim 6 wherein the work station is pivotally attached to the trailer.
 8. The work station of claim 6 wherein the tubing injector assembly may be mounted to the work station and transported with the work station on the trailer when the work station is in its transport position.
 9. The work station of claim 4 further comprising a tool holder for supporting the tool to be connected to the coiled tubing.
 10. The work station of claim 9 wherein the tool holder substantially aligns the tool to be connected with the coiled tubing.
 11. The work station of claim 9 wherein the tool holder comprises: a tool holder housing; and a spring disposed in the tool holder housing for urging the tool towards the coiled tubing.
 12. The work station of claim 1 further comprising a work platform positioned beneath the protective shield to provide a support surface on which a worker can stand to connect the tool to the coiled tubing.
 13. A coiled tubing work station comprising: a work platform located above a ground surface; and a tool holder operably associated with the work platform, wherein a tool positioned in the tool holder may be connected by a worker supported on the work platform to coiled tubing suspended from a tubing injector assembly located above the work platform.
 14. The work station of claim 13 further comprising a support structure, wherein the work platform is pivotably attached to the support structure.
 15. The work station of claim 13 further comprising a protective shield positioned above the work platform.
 16. The work station of claim 15 wherein the protective shield is connected to a support structure.
 17. The work station of claim 16 wherein the work platform is connected to the work structure.
 18. The work station of claim 16 wherein the support structure is mounted to a wheeled trailer.
 19. The work station of claim 13 wherein the tool holder comprises: a tool holder housing; and a spring in the tool holder housing for biasing a tool in the tool holder toward the coiled tubing.
 20. A coiled tubing work station comprising: a support structure; a work platform mounted to the support structure; a protective shield positioned above the work platform, wherein the protective shield has an opening for allowing coiled tubing to pass therethrough; and a tool holder positioned so that a tool supported by the tool holder will be substantially aligned with the coiled tubing passing through the opening in the protective shield for connection to the coiled tubing.
 21. The work station of claim 20 wherein the protective shield is pivotably attached to the support structure.
 22. The work station of claim 20 wherein the work platform is pivotably mounted to the support structure.
 23. The work station of claim 20 wherein the tool holder comprises: a tool receptacle for receiving the tool to be connected to the coiled tubing; and a biasing means for urging the tool toward an end of the coiled tubing to aid in connection of the tool to the coiled tubing.
 24. The work station of claim 23 wherein the tool receptacle is slidably disposed in a tool holder housing.
 25. The work station of claim 20 wherein the work station is adapted to be mounted to and transported on a trailer.
 26. The work station of claim 25 wherein the work station is pivotably mounted to the trailer, and movable thereon between a working position in which the work station may be used to connect tools to coiled tubing, and a transport position. 